As a home or business insurance policyholder, you need to deal with more than just property damage in the aftermath of a fire. Smoke damage as well as water damage caused by firefighting efforts must also be addressed.
During a fire, smoke penetrates throughout the premises and can combine with humidity to form corrosive residues that cause etching, pitting or chemical burning on interior surfaces. The more time passes before smoke damage restoration is started, the greater the damage that can occur. Without proper cleaning techniques and equipment, it can be very difficult to restore your home or business after it's been damaged by smoke.
Safe and effective cleaning and removal of smoke damage is a job often best left to a professional fire and smoke damage restoration company such as ServiceMaster Restore.
HOW CAN A FIRE AND SMOKE DAMAGE RESTORATION COMPANY HELP?
The primary goal of a fire and smoke damage restoration company is to reduce the risk of further damage to your home and property, and to salvage as much of the remaining structure and contents as possible.
Trained fire and smoke damage remediation technicians have the experience, expertise and resources to assess the extent of fire, smoke, soot and water damage to your property, and to give you an overview of which areas and contents can be restored—and which ones may need to be replaced. They can also provide you with a written estimate for reversing the effects of the destruction to your property, and they can work with you and your insurance company to help settle your claim as quickly as possible.
Smoke damage restoration teams use a variety of specialized cleaning agents and equipment to salvage furniture, flooring and other belongings affected by smoke, soot and water. They will also neutralize smoke odour and dispose of items that are too damaged to be salvaged.
TIPS FOR FILING SMOKE DAMAGE INSURANCE CLAIMS
- It is critical to call your insurance company or agent immediately following a fire. Do not wait. Waiting to report a smoke damage insurance claim may cause delays in the claims processing and further damage to your property.
- Review your insurance policy. If the policy was lost in the fire, your insurance company or agent can provide another copy. Look on the declarations page for information regarding the policy's coverage, deductibles, limitations or exclusions, and if there are any filing deadlines.
- If possible and safe to do so, take photos or video of the fire and smoke damage, but try not to disturb the affected areas.
- Call a professional fire and smoke damage restoration company such as ServiceMaster Restore as soon as possible to come and assess the damage, and to provide you with a remediation plan.
- Gather all the necessary information required to file your insurance claim. This information may include but is not limited to:
- Date of the loss
- Type of damage (fire, smoke, water or all three?)
- Location of the damage
- Contact information for the property owner
- Your personal contact information if you're not the property owner
- A copy of the police or fire chief report
- Restoration estimates
- Receipts for all repairs, restoration and other related costs
- Receipts for any hotels or meals if the damage forces you to find other lodging
- Complete list of all damaged items/building materials
- Verify with your insurance agent the procedures and timeline for filing all parts of the claim.
RELY ON PROFESSIONALS FOR FIRE AND SMOKE DAMAGE RESTORATION
If your home or business has experienced fire or smoke damage, contact the professionals at ServiceMaster Restore as soon as possible. With over 70 years of experience in the cleaning and restoration industry, plus innovative technologies and protocols that meet or exceed industry standards, we are prepared and committed to assist in the recovery and restoration of your property, and to assist you with the insurance claims process.